The boom in cosmetic procedures in Australia is so much more than a simple beauty trend; it also presents a serious regulatory challenge.
As cosmetic medicine becomes increasingly mainstream, Australia has seen a dramatic influx in procedures, from minimally invasive surgeries to the rise of injectables. The demand has been accelerated by social media influencers showing off their finished procedures and with this boom has come a raft of ethical and legal concerns around the qualifications of practitioners as well as marketing and informed consent. Australia is responding to the popularity with regulation, but how and what do patients need to be aware of?
The Growing Popularity of Cosmetic Procedures in Australia
Whether it’s injectables like Botox and lip flips or liposuction to remove unwanted fat, Australia has firmly boarded the cosmetic procedure train, and the trend has even grown to encompass cosmetic dentistry. Whether it’s a result of social media filters giving people a different perspective on their looks or the idea of self-optimisation, the trends are clear. Australia has one of the world’s highest cosmetic procedure uptakes per capita, and around a third of Australians are seriously considering having work done.
With the trend growing in popularity, are regulations keeping up with demand?
Current Legal Framework
There are several regulatory bodies in Australia, including the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), the Medical Board of Australia, and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). The AHPRA and Medical Board of Australia joined forces to launch crackdowns in 2023, including mandatory psychological screening before surgery, stricter rules about the use of the term cosmetic surgeon, and advertising rules to prevent before-and-after imagery from implying guaranteed results. However, despite these aggressive steps, there are still grey areas that leave patients at risk, including beauty salons offering injectables.
The Ethical Concerns
There are ethical concerns around pressure tactics and vulnerable patients, with the rise of social media influencers changing the way young adults and adolescents see themselves. While injectables wear off, following these beauty trends without a full understanding of the risks is a problem. There are also mental health considerations to factor in, including body dysmorphic disorder, which alters the way someone sees themselves.
When there are salons offering certain procedures, it can lead to over-servicing when practitioners upsell treatments. Additionally, what starts as a simple lip flip can normalise more invasive procedures, and people must understand that surgery is surgery, regardless of the reason. With social media promotions becoming the norm, it could catapult unqualified practitioners to popularity, which is why informed consent is such an important part of the process and why cooling-off periods should be standard.
How Reputable Clinics Protect Patients
One of the foremost defences against dangerous procedures is top-tier clinics that protect consumers by recruiting highly qualified staff, setting transparent prices, and ensuring they hold thorough consultations with prospective patients. They also provide clear information about the risks of a procedure, whether it’s invasive or not, the downtime following a procedure, and the necessary aftercare and follow-up care.
Clinics in central hubs, such as Dr Refresh located in Sydney, lead with transparency in pricing and back it up with licensing, which helps clients make a safe, informed decision in an industry that is evolving rapidly.
You can vet practitioners by checking a clinic’s credentials and checking with the AHPRA. The shift toward safety-first messaging and more ethical branding has been embraced by legitimate clinics.
Next Steps for Reform
As of now, there are a few ongoing gaps in the need for reform. Cosmetic injectors are operating unregulated with minimal medical oversight, which is why it’s so important to choose a clinic that is licensed to perform the procedures. There is some confusion around the necessary qualifications, with confusion between surgeons, general practitioners, and cosmetic physicians. There have also been issues with inconsistency around advertising across social media platforms.
The ultimate goal is a national license for cosmetic practitioners. In the meantime, public education campaigns to inform people of the risks and the steps to ensure they choose a licensed clinic and a more aggressive approach to putting a stop to misleading advertising and marketing campaigns should be applied.
The boom in cosmetic procedures in Australia is so much more than a simple beauty trend; it also presents a serious regulatory challenge. As demand increases, the risk of potential harm is amplified by clinics and practitioners who either shouldn’t be performing procedures they aren’t qualified for or cutting corners. The future of the industry hinges on ethics, regulations, and ensuring that regulators remain agile and patients are made aware of the risks.
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